Dwarves of Olanch
A proud, artistic, and traditional race, most dwarves spend their entire lives in the massive, sprawling underground city that makes up their kingdom. The only ones who ever see the sky are ambassadors, royals, and the guards who patrol the mountain range above.
Olanch itself is a massive mountain range that sits above the kingdom. It has two major seasons, the bitterly cold winter and warm summer. At each change of the seasons, there is a period of intense rain due to the changing temperatures.
Government: Olanch is ruled by a king or queen, and the crown is passed down through the family line. The previous monarch will choose a successor from their children, or possibly a niece or nephew if no suitable heir can be found. The monarch also shares power with the Council, a group of advisers made up of representatives from each social class.
Social Structure: The Dwarven social hierarchy is based on a class system. A person’s class is determined by their passions and talents when they reach adulthood, and each class elects one of their own to represent them on the Council, which advises the monarch on all major decisions. Dawrves show their class through their jewelry and tattoos. Laborers will wear simple iron rings and have no tattoos, while the royal family is usually outfitted in gold and rubies, with intricate facial tattoos. The classes are as follows:
Laborers: the raw labor of the kingdom, this class is the largest, and some say one of the most important.
Merchants: the salesmen, store owners, and traders, who supply everyone in the kingdom from the laborers to the royals.
Artisans: The artistic class includes architects, smiths, painters, jewelers, and tailors. They are most well known due to Olanch’s main export being their beautiful jewelry, strong armor, and rich clothing.
Warriors: This class includes the city guard, royal guard, surface guard, and the ever growing army. Anyone can join, but only the strongest make it to the final stages of training. Many end up leaving to become laborers or merchants.
Ambassadors: The only class to regularly leave Olanch, these dwarves and their guards are responsible for negotiating and keeping peace with Avonde and, when it was still a kingdom, Svelle.
Royals: Made up of the monarch, their spouse, and their children. The siblings of the monarch generally become ambassadors, warriors or artisans. The monarch depends heavily on the Council, but is ultimately the one to make the choice. However, crossing the Council too many times tends to lead to riots and a new ruler overthrowing the old.
Religion: The dwarves have no gods, and believe in no afterlife. They believe that their race came from earth and return to it in death. The city has a massive garden where the dead are buried to promote the growth of the mushrooms that are the main source of food beneath the mountain.
Marriage: The bond between two people is often made with little fuss or ceremony. When a dwarf wishes to marry, he or she presents their love with one of the rings that signify their class. Generally, the more well off of the two does this as a promise to take care of their spouse. Then, there is a simple exchange of vows before the closest friends and family of the couple, oficiated by the proposing partner’s class leader.
Gender Roles: Men and women are seen as equal in Olanch. A woman can be a warrior, or a man an artisan, and no one pays much mind. Homosexuality is also accepted as normal, and though it is rare, if one wishes to live as a different gender than the one they were given at birth, they are treated as their preferred gender.
Music: The music of the dwarves is as beautiful as all other arts they are known for. It is generally very heavy on drums, as the deep rhythm resounds powerfully in the underground city, and makes creative use of the echos that are inevitable living underground.
Legends: Most legends are of great architects or inventors, with a few noble warriors and a lovely prince or princess here and there. The most popular story is of the architect Elchit, who was said to have carved the first caverns of Olanch to provide a home for her husband.
Holidays: There are many festivals that come throughout the year, but only one major holiday, though it is celebrated twice yearly. This is the Celebration of the Rains, held at each change of the seasons. The celebration involves a tournament, a bazaar, storytelling, and music and dance.
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